Anglers are hitting the lakes and reservoirs around the Uintah Basin and wildlife officials are asking them to take steps to minimize impacts to fish during this time of drought. So what should anglers do? “If you are fishing in a lake or reservoir and want to give the fish you catch and release a better chance of survival during the drought, you should consider fishing in the mornings or evenings when temperatures are cooler,” shares the DWR. “Another way to help fish is to pick a fishing spot that has deeper, cooler water, so you can release any caught fish into an area where they are more likely to survive.” Wildlife officials have also offered some tips for handling fish to decrease stress: Use single hooks on lures and bend down the barbs for easy release. Minimize the time you spend “fighting” the fish and any hands-on handling. Quickly remove the hook with forceps or needle-nosed pliers. Minimize the amount of time the fish is exposed to the air, especially when the weather is warm. And keep your hands wet when handling the fish. If the fish is deeply hooked, don’t pull on the line. Instead, cut the line as close as possible to where it is hooked and leave the hook. Allow the fish to recover in the net before you release it.
